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Barton: Parkway drivers need brake

Calling for a new traffic light in Savannah is like sitting in Sanford Stadium and rooting against the Georgia Bullldogs.

It's unnatural. And potentially life-threatening at a Tennessee or Auburn game.

This area has too many traffic clogs, thanks to poor planning and population growth. The motoring public needs ways to keep drivers moving, not hitting their brakes.

But sometimes - and I cringe as I type these words - someone must shout "Go Vols" or "Go Tigers" (then dive for cover).

This is one of those times:

The city needs to put its own pedal to the metal and install a traffic signal at the intersection of Chatham Parkway and Chatham Center/Savannah Park of Commerce. And do it before someone gets killed.

I've been working on Chatham Parkway since late 2004, when the Savannah Morning News relocated from downtown. Over the past two years, this far-west section of the city (yes, it's within city limits) has grown up faster than the Olsen twins. Dirt is being moved on both sides of this four-lane artery between I-16 and U.S. 17. A big block of new condos is going up. So are new car dealerships.

And land prices. Property that once sold for $70,000 an acre now fetches almost four times that amount.

At this breathless rate, this stretch of Savannah is starting to resemble Abercorn Extension.

In some ways, it already has. Think turning left out of the 12 Oaks Shopping Center without the aid of a red light.

Yes, there are some drivers who can safely cross against moving traffic and get into and out of the side streets. You can find them every Sunday on a NASCAR track. But the average Savannah-area motorist, who is to good driving habits what (choose one: (a) Patrick Dempsey, (b) Donald Trump or (c) Pee-wee Herman) is to suave good looks, needs some illumination.

As in a light that goes from green to yellow to red.

More than 100 customers who get their daily coffee fixes at Jerry's Java on Chatham Parkway agree, according to chief latté-ist Jerry Keeney. He knows because he's got a petition going - and, because he says he sees one or two accidents each week from his window.

L. Scott Martens, whose commercial real estate office is a few doors down, wonders what the city has been doing with the impact fees it has collected - fees intended to cover installation costs for a traffic light - from neighboring developers. His business sources - he's got several, including the developer of the large Chatham Center complex, which has about 1,200 employees and residents - maintain that $120,000 should be in the till, the amount he understands is needed.

"We were told that once we got to a certain point, we'd get a light," Martens said. "Now I can't get a clear answer." Hence, a client who had been looking at an office site in the Woodlands off Chatham Parkway, but doesn't want to sweat the traffic, is considering Pooler.

The vantage point is slightly different downtown. Michael Weiner, who runs the city's traffic department, said his books show about $24,000 set aside - well short of the $180,000 that's required for light work. Installation is on the city's to-do list - in 2009.

"My recommendation is to fast-forward that date," Weiner said. Let's hope City Hall hits that button.

Let's also hope the growing numbers of parkway motorists know when to hit their brakes or accelerators. Picking up coffee and cream isn't worth getting creamed.

Tom Barton is the editorial page editor of the Savannah Morning News. His e-mail address is tom.barton@savannahnow.com.